Abstract: In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping sponsored the initiative to build the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (One Belt One Road). Later the Third Plenary Session of the Tenth People‘s Congress of Tibet Autonomous Region proposed to accelerate the progress of the South Asia Corridor program in coordination with the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor and to push ahead with the Trans-Himalayas Economic Cooperation Belt program.

Tibet is an important access point from southwest China to South Asia. Developing cross-border tourism in Tibet will establish a stronger link between Tibet and the BCIM Economic Corridor and facilitate the building of the Trans-Himalayas Economic Cooperation Belt. It also accords with Tibet‘s development path with Chinese and local Tibetan characteristics, and will accelerate the economic and social progress of Tibet.

The research team conducted on-location studies in the related border crossings of Shigatse and Ngari. Based on their findings, the team presents an analysis of the opportunities and strengths of Tibet to develop cross-border tourism and the priority issues for the industry. The thesis then devises a strategic plan for developing cross-border tourism in Tibet.

Key words: One Belt One Road, South Asia Corridor, cross-border tourism, strategic planning

I. Why to Conduct Such a Study?

Following its rapid development in the region, tourism has become a strategic pillar by means of which Tibet can achieve the development mode with Chinese and local Tibetan characteristics. During the 13th Five-year Plan period (2016-2020), Tibet will continue to exploit its advantageous location, open up to other parts of China and the rest of the world, build the region into a major thoroughfare for China‘s exchanges with South Asia, and accelerate the creation of an open economy. The state and the local Party committee and government of Tibet will further support tourism and direct their attention to the improvement of border crossings, laying a solid foundation for the growth of cross-border tourism in Tibet. Driven forward by trade, cross-border tourism will provide impetus to Tibet‘s social and economic development. It is therefore a critical topic of research in Tibet.

II. Opportunities and Strengths for the Development of Cross-border Tourism in Tibet

i. Based on the extent and variety of its tourist attractions, cross-border tourism in Tibet has the potential for rapid growth

Due to their locations and landforms, the border areas in Tibet host many world-class tourist attractions. In addition to those natural sites renowned throughout the world, like the world‘s highest Mt. Qomolangma (8844 m), Mt. Shishapangma (8012 m), Mt. Lhotse (8516 m), the Sacred Mountain and Holy Lake (Mt. Gang Rinpoche and Lake Manasarovar), Lake Pangong Tso and the renowned six Himalayan valleys, the areas also contain many sites of cultural relics, especially in the two National Famous Historical and Cultural Cities ? Shigatse City and Gyantse County, including the ruins of the Guge Kingdom in present-day Zanda County, Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the Panchen Lama‘s Summer Palace, Pajo Lhakhang‘s Manor, Shalu Monastery, Sakya Monastery and the sites of battles against the British invasion in Dzong. Together with the unique ethnic customs of the plateau, these attract tourists from all over the world.

ii. Tibet‘s location offers particular advantages in developing cross-border tourism

Tibet enjoys several geographical advantages. It borders India, Nepal, Bhutan and other South Asian countries and regions, and provides other parts of China with valuable access to those areas. The Lhasa-Shigatse Railway Line that opened to traffic in 2014 facilitates the flows of people, goods, information and capital between China and Nepal and other South Asian countries. Other railway lines to Tibet, like those from Yunnan, Xinjiang and Sichuan, can also help develop cross-border tourism. This infrastructure will lay a foundation for Tibet to be fully involved in the One Belt One Road initiative and the BCIM Economic Corridor. China‘s frequent people-to-people exchanges with South Asian countries over the course of history also provide a basis and momentum for the rapid growth of cross-border tourism in Tibet.

III. Priority Issues for Developing Cross-border Tourism

After carrying out on-location studies at the border crossings in Shigatse and Ngari prefectures, the research team identified the following priority issues for the development of cross-border tourism.

i. Infrastructure

Basic facilities are key to the development of border towns and tourist destinations. The following problems should be resolved in terms of infrastructure:

1. Transport. Although there are air and railway routes to the border areas ? the Lhasa-Shigatse Railway Line, Shigatse Airport and Ngari Gunsa Airport ? the only two highway routes are often blocked by natural causes. These inadequate transport facilities, along with a lack of planning, make it impossible to exploit the tourist potential of the unique views, like the earthen forest from the "Sacred Mountain and Holy Lake" in Burang County to Zanda County.

2. Accommodation capacity. Although hotels in border towns can accommodate most tourists in ordinary seasons, they are always filled to capacity in the busy season. The lack of quality accommodation and high hotel prices during the busy season damage the border areas‘ reputation and restrict the further development of local tourism.

3. Rest areas along the highways. Despite the long distances involved, there are few rest areas or assembly sites along the travel routes from Lhasa or Shigatse (Ngari Prefecture) to the border crossings and the scenic spots along the way.

4. Night-life. There is very little night-life for tourists in the remoter areas of the border crossings, far away from the large cities, and even these few options offer nothing that cannot be found in Lhasa or other big cities, as they lack any of the special ethnic flavor of the border areas.

5. Dining and shopping facilities. In the manner of small towns, the border crossings provide some facilities for tourists to eat and shop, but these are inadequate. Local authorities should guide the development of restaurants and shops through proper planning.

6. Public service facilities. The border towns do have banking, telecommunications and other public service facilities, but these are outdated.

ii. Integration of cross-border tourist resources

Tourist resources are rich in border areas, but scattered. Mt. Shishapangma in Nyalam County is the only 8,000 m-high mountain entirely within China. The renowned six Himalayan valleys are beautiful to the eye and clement in climate, and feature unique ethnic cultures and traditions (in particular relating to the Sherpa people). India, Nepal, Bhutan and other countries also have abundant tourist resources that compliment China‘s. However, there are no effective cooperative mechanisms or integration plans for developing transnational tourism between China and these countries. Due to this lack of cooperation, the whole area fails to secure a strong competitive edge in the regional or international tourist markets.

IV. Strategic Plan for Cross-border Tourism in Tibet

Within the framework of the One Belt One Road initiative, Tibet should establish more wide-ranging cooperation with the South Asian countries and build the South Asia Corridor. With an effective and targeted overall opening-up arrangement, the autonomous region government should set plans and goals for the development of cross-border tourism, so as to improve Tibet‘s all-round competitive position in the industry.

i. Open more fields to other parts of China and the rest of the world, and increase Tibet‘s ability to steer the market and to ensure supply in the market

The local authorities in Tibet should implement the preferential policies they provide for the One Belt One Road initiative and the BCIM Economic Corridor, especially those concerning Shigatse, and devote greater efforts to developing Gyirong and other border crossings as an important access to South Asia. The government should formulate plans for economic and technological development zones in Tibet along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the BCIM Economic Corridor, increase budget investment, minimize tourist approval procedures, and expedite infrastructure projects in border tourist destinations. The government should make every effort to attract overseas tourists, increase tourist spending, and win a competitive edge in the international tourist market.

ii. Improve infrastructure and public services for tourism

Based on the existing Qinghai-Tibet and Lhasa-Shigatse railway lines, Tibet should accelerate the construction of the railway network pivoting on Lhasa, including the planned Yunnan-Tibet, Sichuan-Tibet and Xinjiang-Tibet lines, and extend sub-lines to border crossings like Dram, Gyirong and Yadong, so as to connect China and South Asia by rail and achieve the free flow of people, goods, capital and information. The autonomous region should also improve its tourism association, set up a cross-border tourism association, cultivate a sense of customer service among tourism employees, and further improve the border areas‘ ability to provide quality services.

iii. Promote multilateral cooperation, starting from the Mt. Qomolangma Culture and Tourism Festival

With the development of the One Belt One Road and the BCIM Economic Corridor, Tibet should help to bring about cooperation agreements between China and Nepal in fields related to the Tibetan route of China-South Asia Silk Road, boosting bilateral trade and promoting mutual economic and social development. Tibet could:

establish an experimental international park for China-Nepal bilateral tourism cooperation in Qomolangma National Park, increasing cooperation between the two countries;

draw up plans for a Gang Rinpoche international tourism cooperation zone, increasing the flow of Indian Buddhist pilgrims and thereby boosting cross-border tourism and trade between China and India; and

set up a China-Nepal cross-border economic cooperation zone at Gyirong in the Trans-Himalayas Economic Cooperation Belt and build it into a free trade demonstration area for Nepal and other South Asian countries, increase resources directed to post-earthquake reconstruction at Gyirong and Dram, and restore their functions as border crossings, so as to increase economic and trade cooperation between China and Nepal, and bring about a boom in China-South Asian regional cooperation.

(Tudeng Kezhu, Director of Department of Scientific Research, Tibet University; Xu Ning , PhD Student ,School of Economics and Management, Tibet University)